Coupling for locomotive engines and tenders.



PATENTED 001 24, 1905.

G. W. RITTERSBAGH. COUPLING FOR LOGOMOTIVE ENGINES AND TENDERS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 22, 1904.

----- .umlllllll llllllm witmwaoeo I NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE W. RITTERSBAOH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-EIGHTH TO ROBERT B. RITTERSBAOH AND ONE-FOURTH TO JACOB F. GAEHRING, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COUPLING FOR LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES AND TENDERS Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed October 22, 1904. Serial No. 229.555.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. RrrTnRs- BAGH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Ooupling for Locomotive Engines and Tenders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in a cou pling for a locomotive engine and tender; and it consists of a coupling-link formed of a bar having circular heads, the ends of which latter are adapted to be seated in circular recesses or sockets in draw-heads on the footboard and tender plates, thus connecting the engine and tender in a convenient manner and by strongly-constructed means, provision being made for preventing improper uncoupling, while the uncoupling when so required may be readily accomplished.

Figure 1 represents a bottom plan view of the coupling for locomotive engines and tenders embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section thereof. Fig. 3 represents an end view thereof. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of a modification of the coupling-link.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a portion of the footboard-plate of a locomotive-engine, and B designates a portion of the tender-plate. On the under sides of said plates are draw-heads O and D, respectively, each draw-head having therein back of the bottom wall a circular recess or socket E. In the front wall F of the draw-head of the plate A is a longitudipally-extending recess G, and in the rear wall F 01" the draw-head of the plate B is a similar recess G, it being noticed that said recesses G are in the upper parts of the respective walls of the draw-heads.

H designates a coupling-link for the engine and tender, the same consisting of the bar J and circular heads K on the under side of the ends thereof, it being noticed that the height of the interior chamber of each draw-head is such that when one end of the coupling enters the draw-head said coupling may lower, so that the head K may enter the recess or socket beneath the same. In order to guide the link into the draw-heads, the inner sides of the same are formed with horizontally-extending shoulders L, on which the under sides of the heads K may ride when the coupling enters the draw-bars.

In the outer end of the under wall of each draw-bar is a recess M, for purposes hereinafter explained.

N designates keys which are adapted to enter the interior draw-bars and overhang the ends of the coupling-link.

The operation is as follows: hen it is desired to con plea locomotive engine and tender, one end of the coupling-link isintroduced into either draw-bar to full extent, when it is allowed to lower, when the head sinks into the recess or socket beneath it. The opposite end of the link is introduced into the other draw-head and is also permitted to lower, when it sinks into the recess. or socket designed for it, thus coupling the engine and tender, the link readily yielding to the lateral swaying of the engine and tender as the heads K have their bearings in the walls of the recesses or sockets E. In order to prevent rising of the coupling-link, the keys N are introduced into the openings G, whereby they pass over the ends of the coupling-lin k, and so serve to retain the heads in the recesses, while, however, not interfering with the rotary motions of said heads, and consequently of the link. When it is desired to uncouple the en gine and tender, the keys are withdrawn, when the link may be raised, the heads of the coupling then emerging from the recesses or sockets and entering the upper part of the draw-heads, from which the link may be readily withdrawn, as is evident. It will be noticed that the recesses E are open from below or throughout in vertical direction, whereby they may be entered to apply upward pressure against the heads K and lift the same above the shoulders formed by the bottom Walls of the draw-heads, said heads then being disconnected from said walls, thus efl'ecting the uncoupling.

Where the plates A and B are at different levels or heights, the coupling-link may be of angular form, as shown in Fig. 4, each end of the same being provided with a circular head, as in the previous case, the body of the bar of said link being adapted to enter the recesses M, the engine and tender being coupled as in the previous case.

In order to limit the inward or looking motion of the keys N, the under sides of the same are formed with shoulders P, which are adapted to abut against the rear walls of the draw-heads. In order to properly Withdraw said keys, there is pivotally connected with the same the levers Q. whose bearings are on the adjacent portions of the plates A and B, it being evident that by moving said levers in one direction the keys may be withdrawn and by moving them in the opposite direction said keys may be introduced into the drawheads and placed over the ends of the coupling-links, as hereinbefore described.

It will also be noticed that the coupling in no Wise interferes With the freedom of the upper faces of the platesA and B and admits of the usual apron being placed over said plates to cover the spaces between the same. It will also be seen that the draw-heads are of strong construction, their upper walls being integral with the remaining Walls, and do not require to be jointed for coupling or uncoupling purposes.

Various chan-ges may be made in the details of construction shown without departing from the general spirit of my invention, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited in each case to the same. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a coupling of the character stated, a draw-head having a bottom Wall and a recess rearward of the same, said recess being open throughout in vertical direction.

2. In a coupling of the character stated, a draw-head havinga socket in a horizontal wall thereof, said draw-head being adapted to receive a coupling-link and said socket to seat therein an end member of said link and a device movably occupying a Wall of said drawhead and vertically controlled therein and adapted to engage the adjacent end of said link and positively control the latter against upward motion.

3. In a coupling-of the character stated, a draw-head having a socket in a horizontal wall thereof and a recess in a side wall and a key adapted to be fitted in said recess and engage the end of a coupling-link adapted to enter said draw-head and partly occupy said socket.

4:. In a coupling of the character stated, a draw-head having a socket in a wall thereof, said socket being in communication with the interior of said draw-head, a coupling-link adapted to enter said draw-head and having an end member adapted to be seated in said socket and a key movably occupying a wall of said draw-head and vertically controlled therein and adapted to engage the adjacent end of said link and positively control the latter against upward motion.

5. In a coupling of the character stated, a draw-head having a socket on a wall thereof and a recess in its outer end and a couplinglink adapted to enter said draw-head having a head at an end adapted to be seated in said socket and a portion of the body of the link to occupy said recess, said socket being open throughout in vertical direction, permitting said head to be accessible from below and means on the draw-head for controlling said head from above.

6. In a coupling of the character stated, a draw-head having a bottom wall and a recess rearward of the same, said recess being open throughout in vertical direction, and a coupling-link composed of a bar adapted to be seated on said Wall and acircular head adapted to occupy said recess and being accessible from below for raising purposes.

GEORGE W. RITTERSBAGH.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, WM. CANER WIEDERSEIM. 

